VACATION IS WHERE I WANNA BE

[kametaro]

☼ BEACH VACATION MEME ☼ Summer begins, and the saniwa's army earns a well deserved vacation. All expenses paid for by their organization, from travel to lodging to food, and yes, even the swim wear and toys. The water is blue, the skies are (mostly) clear, and it's time to have some fun at the beach! Watch out for the jellyfish and KBseagulls. ***Feel free to include some prompts in your top level. If you can't think of any, pick from below for some ideas!** 001.IN THE WATER This is why you're here, right? Take to the water and splash around. Now might be a good time to learn to swim if you don't already. But watch out! Here comes a large wave--! 002.SANDCASTLES This is it... the enemy's stronghold... not! It's a race against the clock to build a castle before the tide comes in. Collect those seashells, fortify your fortress, and don't be a jerk and ruin some else's castle. 003.SUNBATHING or maybe you've opted to sit under the shade of a large umbrella instead. Some times it's good to just sit back, relax, and watch to make sure no one needs to be rescued later. Keep an eye on the tide or you might find yourself getting wet anyway. 004. BEACH ANIMALS There are tiny fish in the tide pools, crabs crawling around, and uwah are those sea turtles?! Tsurumaru, put that octopus down right now. Ouch, did that jellyfish get you? And look, over there! That's a dolphin! You know, dolphins are intelligent creatures and have been known to help people-- WAIT NO ITS A SHARK ITS A SHARK NOT A FRIENDLY FISH IT LOOKS LIKE A DOLPHIN BUT ITS A SHARK. 005.MELON SLICING The organization has been kind enough to provide food and drink as well. They must have felt very clever sending all of those watermelons, though. Really, who needs that many watermelons? It's a competition to see which sword is the True Melonslasher. 006.STORM Those clouds came in so quickly, you barely had a chance to notice. The sky is dark, the rain is pouring down, and the wind is blowing cold. It's time to quickly collect your things and try to find some place dry. 007.KBCGULLS. Oh no, who fed the seagulls? They're circling around like vultures and making swoops at you, trying to steal your food. Hey, wait, that's not even edible! Was it just you or was there an evil glint in that bird's eye just now...? 008.BEACH PARTY. All of those watermelons you sliced earlier are being put to use. The sun is setting, the food is out, and a bonfire is going on the beach. Eat your heart out and dance around the fire. Watch the sunset, look at the stars, this sure is nice, isn't it? 009.WILDCARD. Mix and match. Create your own prompt. Find the dragon king's palace or something.

Comments

[yume_tabiji]

Yes, something like that.

[In all honesty, she can go without a continuation of Crabmageddon. And a Crabnado is no option either.]

Thank you... but I feel like I could still improve.

[Now to place the seashells at the right spots...]

[aslyfox]

[ He can certainly admire Japan's sense of design given the placement of the ornaments he had acquired for her use, and in a way he's happy that he could contribute in any form. ]

Nothing wrong with wanting to get better... do you usually have time to practice your art?

[ He's not too sure about the daily lives of others, only of himself and the other swords. ]

[yume_tabiji]

[If he likes he can contribute more than just seashells and add some art of his own.]

Not always, but when I have time to spare then I use it for practice.

[Or power napping. being a nation has never been easy, especially not when someone tried to change your past.]

[aslyfox]

I see.

[ He'll start to put a few shells on the lower half of the mer-person, happy to trace a few scales as well with a finger. ]

I should pick up an activity or two. Wonder what I could do? [ Other than take care of the crops, which is more of a chore... though it did lead to delicious food. ]

[yume_tabiji]

Though, Kogitsune-san, you seem to be talented as well.

[She likes the details he added.]

Is there anything you enjoy a lot? Or something you are interested in? You may find an activity to do in your free time this way.

[aslyfox]

It's probably luck. [ He looks pretty happy that Japan thought it looks nice, but he quickly becomes a bit more thoughtful when being asked those questions. ]

I like... [ What does he even like... and now he looks confused. ]

[yume_tabiji]

Not only, I am sure of it.

[Praise when one deserves it. She adjusts her hat a little looks at him silently when she sees that confused expression on his face.]

[aslyfox]

[ Deep in thought, he's pondering exactly what he likes... ]

... I like tofu. Maybe I'll take up cooking when I get back to the citadel? [ He nods, though he wasn't usually one to do the work. There were swords who were much better at it. ]

[yume_tabiji]

You should try it.

[And if it's no fun then he can always do something else.]

If you like then I can give you a few recipes.

[aslyfox]

That would be greatly appreciated, Japan-san. [ Outside of making rice, tea, and fried tofu... he's pretty useless in the kitchen. Even then, it's a 50/50 whether he accidentally burns the food or something goes horribly wrong. ]

I like the person you made. [ Mer-person, but Kogi doesn't really know the difference. It looks elegant regardless. The shells really helped! ]

[yume_tabiji]

It would be my pleasrue.

[Trying it would still get him praise... And if he fails horribly she would comfort him later. If he would still be willing to cook she wouldn't mind teaching him.]

Thank you. Being here at the beach reminded me of a story from Denmark-san that I once read.

[aslyfox]

Hm. I've never met Denmark-san. What kind of story did you read? [ The little fox knows of only two countries, the nice one next to him and Vietnam-san, though somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, he knows that they're from different universes... ]

[yume_tabiji]

[What a smart fox he is.]

"The little Mermaid". It's about a girl, half-human and half-fish, that lives in a palace in the ocean. When she came of age she was allowed to swim to the surface for the first time and spotted a ship with humans and fell in love at the first sight with a young prince who happens to be on board.

[aslyfox]

Oh. Royalty finding royalty? What a cute story... but it sounds like it'd be hard for someone who lives in the water to live with someone on land.

Also, is she little in the same sense that I'm little, or actually little? [ He's a "little" fox. Is this princess a "little" mermaid? Kogi's eyes are wide. ]

[yume_tabiji]

In a way. The ship of the prince wrecked. The little mermaid saved him but she knew that they couldn't be together like this, so she went to a sea witch who gave her legs in exchange for her voice.

[She giggles and nods.]

Little like you. Except that in her case she was the youngest of her siblings.

[aslyfox]

[ Japan's giggle makes him laugh too. It's infectious! It's just enough to break him from being firmly entranced by the story that she's telling, because it just sounds so neat. ]

Siblings... hm.

[yume_tabiji]

[Never would she have thought that her giggles hold such power.]

Yes, five sisters.

[aslyfox]

... the closest thing I have to family are the other Sanjo-forged blades. Do you have any family, Japan-san?

[ He hates to interrupt her story, but he has to ask. Curiosity, really. ]

[yume_tabiji]

[It's okay, she will doesn't mind it.]

I consider all of you as family. The swords, the prefectures, my people, the other Asian countries...

[Although her relationship with China and Korea is... complicated.]

[aslyfox]

Ah. That makes me happy! I hope to meet some of the other countries one day. [ In reality, he only knows this Japan and a Vietnam, but has heard things about the others. ]

It must be weird, to represent so much and so many. I'm just one sword. [ He chuckles, looking at the mermaid. Are there merfoxes...? ]

[yume_tabiji]

One day maybe.

[She's a bit wary in that regard, since most swords were lost, taken away from her or destroyed after World War II... She'd rather not have any of the former Allies around the swords, especially America and England, she's still holding a grudge at them for destroying historical and cultural treasures of her house.]

Not at all. It's a bit difficult at times, but I've been around for a long time, I'm used to it.

[... Probably not. But there are Catfish and Seahorses.]

[aslyfox]

[ In the way she speaks, he feels hesitant... perhaps not all countries are as kind and polite as her and a few others. Still, if there were to be any fighting... well, he'd defend her. ]

A long time? Hm. I suppose I was forged then, yes? [ She's definitely way older than him. Spirits don't age, so that's a nice benefit. ]

[yume_tabiji]

[She's on better terms with most of them by now, the relations with some others are strained for various reasons... being a nation is far from easy. However she would be deeply moved if the small fox were to defend her.]

Yes, I've been around when you were forged, even long before Mikazuki-san came to be.

[*cough*For 2.675 years.*cough*]

[aslyfox]

[ W... wow. That's almost unfathomable! Even though he and Mikazuki really weren't that far off from each other age-wise, knowing that Japan was there before that??? ]

... I see... well, I'm glad you are still around. I hope what we do doesn't affect you. [ Time travel and countries and how does that even work? Crazy! ]

[yume_tabiji]

[China is older... much older. 4000 years, that makes her look young, doesn't it? But yes, she has been there before you were created, probably saw Sanjo when he was a baby... Nation-wise she had been a teen around that time.]

The enemy trying to change the past does affect my health and weakens me. By you fighting them and trying to protect the past you are helping me to regain my strength bit by bit. And for that I'm grateful.

[Crazy, yes, but not impossible!]